Larry Shenk, Vice President of Alumni Relations, shares his notes, quotes and anecdotes from the world of baseball.

Best Meets Best

It doesn’t get any better than this.

Phillies have the best record in the majors; Red Sox, best in the American League and they meet for a three-game series starting Tuesday night. Citizens Bank Park will be jumping.

It doesn’t get any better than this.

Cliff is coming off two straight shutouts and has allowed one run in his last 33 innings. He starts Tuesday night against Josh Beckett whose 1.86 ERA is the best in the universe.

It doesn’t get any better than this.

Phillies team ERA is 3.05, lowest in the NL. Red Sox lead the AL in runs scored (409) and batting average (.277). The Phillies are seventh in runs scored (320); the Red Sox ninth in staff ERA (3.97).

The Major League Baseball Network is carrying Tuesday’s night game and Thursday’s day game. ESPN will televise Wednesday night’s game nationally. Of course all games can be seen and/or heard on MLB.com.

Since interleague play began in 1997, the two teams have met 43 times. By the end of the series, the Phillies will have played the most interleague games against Boston, passing the Orioles (45).

Boston has the upper hand, 26-13; 13-7 at Fenway and 13-6 in Philly.

The Red Sox have a 23-16 road record; the Phillies have the NL’s most home wins, 30-13.

Down On The Farm
CF John Mayberry and INF Josh Barfield drove in 2 runs each as Lehigh Valley was a 6-1 winner over Charlotte . . . RHS J. C. Ramirez (6-7) allowed 1 run in 6 innings as Reading ended a 3-game losing streak with a 3-1 win in Altoona. LH Joe Savery pitched 2 scoreless innings, his first stint on the mound this season after switching to 1B-DH . . . 6 different batters had 2 hits each as Clearwater snapped a 3-game losing streak, 4-2 at Lakeland . . . RF Zach Collier had 3 hits and stole his 23rd base but Lakewood bowed, 5-2, at Hagerstown, ending a 3-game winning streak . . . Williamsport also saw a 3-game win streak end, 13-8, at Auburn . . . Gulf Coast League Phillies were suspended in the bottom of the 2nd by rain.

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